Why Quilts Matter –Question & Answer with Amanda Leins

One of the more colorful people we met while attending QuiltCon in Austin this past February was Amanda Leins. Amanda, a former archaeologist who has turned to quilts to tell stories, began quilting in 2002. Her quilt, “Eggs and Darts” from her new book Wanderlust Quilts, won First Place in the Modern Quilts category at more »

We are going to QUILTCON!

​Heading to Austin, Texas, this week for the Modern Quilt Guild’s QUILTCON? We are, and we’ll be in booth #906 – conveniently located next to Demo Area A and the concession stand!

Come by and say hello – we’ve got all kinds of things for you to watch and see and do. Need help with guild programing? We have you covered. Brochures for a meeting or cruise? Postcards? Pins? (Hurry, they go FAST!)

“Let it snow… let it snow… let it snow!”

Winter has come early to many places, and along with it record snowfalls and biting cold. We were pleased to find a different kind of snow – in flake form – that is much easier to handle and could actually be a welcome addition to your holiday preparations! Back in October we visited with Tim more »

Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics is Featured on KET’s “A History of Kentucky in 25 Objects”

“A History of Kentucky in 25 Objects” is an hour-long television documentary which reveals the history of Commonwealth of Kentucky through such historical objects as a stone axe, a Civil War surgeon’s saw, a coal miner’s cap, Abraham Lincoln’s pocket watch, Muhammad Ali’s robe, Col. Harland Sanders’ first pressure cooker, and 19 more. Why Quilts Matter: History, more »

Why Quilts Matter: Three Years in Review and a Look Ahead

Three years ago we released the nine-part documentary Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics (WQM). Since then thousands of DVD sets went to over 20 countries around the world, had airtime on more than 200 select PBS stations across the country, and have been a sought after resource for educators and librarians.

Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi Receives One of the National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowships

Award winning artist, author and featured friend of Why Quilts Matter, History, Art and Politics, Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi has been named as one of nine recipients of the National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowships. Mazloomi is being honored for her efforts to conserve American culture by preserving and imparting African-American history through quilts. Her body of work and her belief that, “Quilts are for much more than keeping people warm, they are historical documents” has led to her reception of the 2014 Bess Lomax Hawes NEA National Heritage Fellowship Award, named after the former NEA director of folk and traditional arts.

Why Quilts Matter at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D. C.

We’re thrilled to be featured in the “Workt by Hand: Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts” exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in D.C. through April 2014. This unique exhibit examines quilts through the lens of contemporary feminist theory. Revealing this medium’s shifting cultural status, the exhibition explores issues of anonymity versus more »

Pin It to Win It

The contest is over. And the winner is… Patricia P. from Barre, VT. Congratulations, Patricia! Now through the end of October, 2013 – take part in the Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics Pinterest contest for a chance at a free copy of the series DVD set. Simply follow us on Pinterest and pin more »

Watch Out World, We’re Streaming on Amazon!

Rent it. Own it. Buy one episode at a time. Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics is now available on Amazon streaming so you can watch right from your tablet or phone! We’ve rolled out the first four episodes to get you started, each approximately 26 minutes in length. Start off with a more »

Celebrating the Success with Bill Volckening

When creating a large project like Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics, we relied heavily on the support of many people from those who provided photos for the series to those who generously gave financial support to get us up and running. We’d like to highlight one friend in particular, who continues to support more »

Why Quilts Matter – Question and Answer with Angela Walters

Have you seen the June/July issue of Quilters Newsletter? If you have, you probably recognize the free motion quilting handiwork of Angela Walters. As popular teacher and fabric designer, Angela didn’t start out quilting. Rather, she arrived at it through her love of sketching. “For as long as I can remember I have always loved more »

New York Beauty Quilts at an Exhibition in San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles

It’s been busy lately. My exhibition, “Collecting New York Beauty Quilts” opens on July 31st at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles in San Jose, California. The exhibition will run through October 27th and will include more than 30 quilts made between 1850 and the present, all variants in the New York Beauty genre.

Why Quilts Matter – Question & Answer with Denyse Schmidt

Many questions in the Why Quilts Matter Discussion Guide focus on the changes and future of the art of quilting. Who better to answer those questions than Denyse Schmidt, a quilter, former graphic designer, and graduate of Rhode Island School of Design.

Why Quilts Matter – Discussion Guide Q&A with Joe Cunningham

As part of our celebration of National Quilting Month we are pleased to present a series of blog interviews with people you have said you “follow”. First up in the series is Joe Cunningham. Joe began making quilts professionally in 1979 after a ten-year career as a musician in Michigan. His quilts are in the permanent collections of museums, as well as in numerous private collections, and has both authored or collaborated on numerous books on quilting.

It’s Time to Celebrate National Quilting Month!

We can’t believe it’s March already, which means National Quilting Month will be in full swing soon. To celebrate we’re offering a FREE episode of Why Quilts Matter on our YouTube Channel during March and a special showing of Ep. 5: “Gee’s Bend: The Most Famous Quilts in America?” for The Quilt Show members from March 15 – 17. If you haven’t seen the series or you want to watch again, these are perfect opportunities to view for free!